Machine for making spiral tubing.



G.LOMBARDL MACHINE FOR MAKING- SPIRAL TUBING. APPLICATION FILED JAN 24, 1912.

1,096,513 Patented May 12, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

ATTORNEY G. LOMBARDI.

MACHINE FOR MAKING SPIRAL TUBING. APPLICATION FILED JA1L24,1912v 1,096,,5 1 3, Patented May 12, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

N a) I fl] WITNESSES: oo 5 |{1 Q 'F INVENTOH 88 I o u m Jar WA 7; BY k #2 J ATTORNEY G. LOMBARDI.

MACHINE FOR MAKING SPIRAL TUBING.

APPLICATION TILED JAN. 24, 1912v Patented May 12, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

INVENTOR WITNESSES:

4 TTORN E Y GIOVANNI LOMBARDI, OF DERBY, CONNECTICUT.

MACHINE LECR MAKING SPIRAL TUBING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

I Patented May 12, 1914:.

Application filed January 24, 1912. Serial No. 673,194.

7 '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Giovanni LOMBARDI, a citizen of the United States, residin at Derby, county of New Haven, State of on-- necticut, have invented an Improvement in Machines for Making Spiral Tubing, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in machines for making flexible gas-tight metallic conduits for electric conductors, liquids and gases.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide improved means for bending a strip of metal into spirals and to propel said strip through the spiral forming mechanism.

A further object is to provide improved means for guiding a strip of metal to the shaping mechanism. I

A further object is to provide means for feeding a suitable packing strip to the forming mechanism and for interlocking said strip with the edges of the metal strip.

A fhrther object is to provide improved means for winding or reeling the flexible conduit after the same has been produced by the shaping mechanism. i v

A further object-is to provide means for automatically controlling the speed of rotation of said winding or reeling mechanism to conform with the speed with which the conduit is formed by the forming mechanism.

A further object is to provide means for adjusting the automatic control of said winding or reeling means to conform to variations in the pitch of spirals which may be employed to make up the conduit.

A further object is to provide improved means for operating the means for feeding the metallic strip, the means for feedin the packing, the shaping mechanism, an the conduit windin or reeling means all in time, one with the other, to effect a continuous uninterrupted operation of the respective parts.

A further object is to provide means for inclosing a cable within a flexible conduit as the latter is formed, and leaving said (able free to be pulled into or out of said conduit.

The invention will be hereinafter fully set forth and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings :-Figure 1 is a top plan view illustrating a machine embodying my invention, parts being shown insection. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a detail view, partly in section, illustrating a portion of flexible tubing made by in improved machine. Figs. 4.- and 5 are detai s illustrating portions of the winding mechanism for thecompleted tubing. Fig. 6 is a sectional view, on the line 66, Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a sectional view on line 7-7, Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a sectional view on line 8-8, Fig. 1. Fig. 9 is a sectional View on line 99, Fig. 1. Fig. 10 is a sectional view on line 10-10, Fig. 1. Fig. 11 is a detail sectional .view illustrating the mandrel and shaping rollers.

Referring to the drawings, 10 designates a base plate on which is mounted a bracket 11 supportinga series of die or shaping rollers 12. Said rollers are connected up by a series of pinions and gears 13 driven from a shaft 14 which is connected through universal joints 15 with a propeller shaft 16. The shaft 16 is driven from a power shaft 17 mounted in the bracket 18 which also supports the shaft 16, said power shaft being driven from any suitgble source of power through a pulley 19. On the end of shaft 16 is mounted a change speed gear 20, which through the intermediate gear 21 mounted on a hinged frame 22, engages a gear 23. Said gear 23 is keyed or otherwise secured to a shaft 24 which is also provided with a gear 25 meshing with an intermediate gear 26 mounted upon a quill shaft 27. Meshing with said intermediate gear 26 are three pinions 28 secured to, and driving shafts 29. j j

' On one of the shafts 29 is secured a pinion 30 which through a series of gear 31, including one change gear, drives the quill shaft 27 in a direction opposite to the movement of said shaft 29 and at the same angular velocity as the conduit is formed. Mounted on one end of the shaft 27 is a change gear 32, meshing with an intermediate gear 33 carried on a stud 34 mounted in a curved slot 35 inithe frame 18. The curvature of said slot is concentric with a shaft 36, allowing the intermediate gear 33 to be .37. The gear 37 is mounted on the hub 38 of a bevel gear 39 which runs freely on the shaft 36, but meshes with bevel pinions 40 mounted on a spider 41 retained in a brake drum 42. Said drum is held under tension by any suitable means, suchas the brake band 43 operated by a lever 44 from the free end of which is suspended a weight 45. Said weight may be varied to adjust the resistance against the rotation of the drum. Meshing with the pini'ons 40 is a bevel gear 46 keyed or otherwise secured to the shaft 36. The gears 39 and 46 and the pinions 40 coiiperate to form a-difi'erential gear, and it will be noted that as the spider 41 is held from rotating, or its rotation retarded, the

ings carried'by a bracket 11 secured to the base plate 10. The conduit is shaped by a directing sleeve 54 having a flange 54 at one end secured to an upright portion of "the bracket 11*, said sleeve being provided with an opening 55 in its side through which the metal strip 56 is introduced. A. mandrel 58 rotated by quill shaft 27 is passed through a suitable opening in bracket 11 andalso extends through the sleeve 54. Said quill shaft and mandrel 58 are hollow, and the electric cable or conductor onreel 50 is passed through them. The sleeve 54 is provided with an internal helical groove corresponding to the pitch of the tubing, said groove causing said metal ribbon to follow a helical path about the mandrel.

In making the hollow conduit illustrated in Fig. 3, the supply of metal ribbon 56 is carried on a reel 59,, from which itpasses through a guide 60 to the die or shaping rollers 12. The peripheries of said rollers are formed to properly shape the metal strip with a flange 61 on one side and a groove 62 on the opposite side, said groove being constructed to receive a packing strip 63 prior to passing through the last pair of die or shaping rollers 12, the last mentioned rollers acting to seal the packing strip in position and projecting slightly beyond the metal ribbon, leaving the latter free to pass through the guiding member 64 into thedirecting sleeve 54. Thedie or shaping roller bracket 65 is mounted on the base plate 10 so that the angle at which the metal ribbon 56 is fed to the condult forming mechanism,

is parallel to the spiral pitch angle of the conduit, and as said angle varies with the diameter of the conduit and the width of which co6perate with mandrel 58 to com-v press each spiral firmly on they succeeding spiral, effectually sealing th between the spirals.

It will be noted that by passing the cable through the mandrel the conduit, as formed,

is-loose on the cable, as the pressure of the rolls 53 is against the mandrel and not against the cable. Thus the latter is loose in the conduit and may be pulled into or out of the same. i

The finished conduit as it is discharged from the sleeve 54 is delivered to a collect- .ing reel which is carried in a frame'71 having hollow journals 72 rotatingin bearings 73 and 7 3. Secured to one of the journals 7 2 is a pinion 74 meshing with a similar pinion 75 keyed to shaft 36. Retained in the bearing 73 is a shaft 76 passed through the other journal 72, being held stationary by, a set screw 78 and carrying on the inner end a miter gear 79 which meshes with a similar gear 80 secured to the friction disk shaft 81, causing the latter to revolve in the direction indicated by the arrow. A friction disk 82 is secured to-the outside of the shaft 81, and against said disk is pressed the friction wheel 83 mounted on a shaft 84 and adapted to slide along said shaft, driving the same through a key carried by the wheel 83, and an elongated keyway in the shaft 84. Secured to the other end of the friction wheel shaft 84 is a worm 85 meshing with a worm wheel 86 secured to a short shaft 87 passing from the outside of the reel frame 71 to the inside of the latter and terminating in a grooved flange 88. One end of the reel 70 is provided with a tongue 89 projecting into the groove of flange 88, whereby rotary motion is imparted to the reel. The reel is held in position by a rod 90 secured by a set screw 91 in the frame 71, the other end of said rod fitting in a hole in shaft 87.

, The lateral position of the friction wheel 83 which-are provided with a bar 94 which is pressed against the reel 70 and is forced outpacked joint ward by the increase in diameter of said reel due to the winding of the completed conduit thereon. This outward movement of the arms 92 is transmitted through shaft 93 to a lever 97, and from the latter through a connecting rod 95 that transmits the same to the friction wheel lever 96, which latter is rovided with a forked end engaging the fidetion wheel 83. Thus it will be seen that said friction wheel is gradually moved nearer to the center of the friction disk 82, and thus automatically compensates for the increase in diameter of the collectin reel 70. In order to compensate for difierence in spiral pitch, the relation between arms 92 and lever 96 may be adjusted by shifting said lever 97 on the shaft 93 and moving the connecting rod stud 100 nearer to or farther from the shaft 93, thus increasing or decreasing the leverage as the case requires.

Between the reel 70 and the journals of the frame 71 is interposed a guiding device for distributing the finished conduit evenly on the whole length of said reel. Said guiding device is illustrated as comprising a distributer 101 sliding on a guide rod 102 and reciprocated by means of a block 108 supported by the distributer and engaging right and left hand grooved spirals 10 1 in a shaft 105, said grooves intersecting one another and terminating at one of these intersections on each end of the shaft. The shaft 105 is actuated by a gear 106 secured to shaft 87 driving a gear 107 which meshes with a second gear 108 mounted on an arm 109 hinged around gear 107 to allow the gear 108 to be brought into mesh with a change gear secured to the shaft 105. This construction, including the change gear, is employed owing to the necessity of changing the driving ratio of shaft 105 when change is made in the diameter of the conduit.

In connection with the foregoing it'will be noted that as the finished conduit is secured to the collecting reel 70, which in turn is held in the frame 71, the rotating movement imparted to said frame 71 through the driving means tends to turn the same at a speed in excess of that at which the conduit is made by the forming mechanism. This excessive movement is converted into a tension which cooperates with the conduit forming means by. twisting said conduit through the conduit forming device, the differential or equalizing gearing governing the movement of the parts and thereby eliminating any stoppage of the conduit forming functions'during the operation of the machine, due to slipping of the die rollers and seaming rollers on the metal ribbon forming the conduit.

The operation is as follows :The shaft 36 is driven from the drive shaft 17 through the intermediate gearing carried by the bracket 18, and the differential gearing act-uated by the first mentioned gearing. The reel frames 19 and 71 are driven by said shaft 36 at the same speed, each set of gears 17, 75 and shafts 29, all actuated from the main drive shaft 17 and in time with each other. As illustrated in the drawing, a metallic strip 56 and a packing strip 63 are fed past the rollers 12 into the shaping device 5 1 and simultaneously therewith an electric conductor is fed into the said shaping device. As the metal strip is acted upon by the shaping device it is coiled around the electrical conductor and the edges pressed down by the rollers 53. As the completed conduit is discharged from the shaping device it is taken up by the reel 70. Said reel is automatically controlled in its operation to conform to the speed of discharge of the completed conduit, and is so monnted that as the conduit is wound thereon a tension is maintained on said conduit during the forming operation.

Having thus explained the nature of my invention and described an operative manner of making and using the same, although without attempting to set forth all of the forms in which it may be made, or all of the forms of its use, what I claim is 1. In a machine for forming flexible conduit, shaping mechanism comprising a bracket having an upright wall, a cylindrical sleeve having one end secured to one face of said wall, the other end being free, a mandrel passed through said wall and said sleeve, means for introducing a con tinuous strip of metal into said sleeve through the side and at an angle to the axis thereof, said sleeve being shaped to form said strip into a helical coil around said mandrel and discharge the same through the free end of the sleeve, die rollers surrounding said mandrel and cooperating therewith forcompressing the overlying edges of the said strip, and shafts supporting said die rollers and also passed through said wall.

2. In a machine for forming flexible con duit, shaping mechanism comprising a bracket having an upright wall, a cylindrical sleeve havingmne end secured to one face of said wall, the other end being free, a mandrel passed through said wall and said sleeve, means for introducing a continuous strip of metal into said sleeve through the side and at an angle to the axis thereof, said sleeve being shaped to form said strip into a helical coil around said mandrel and discharge the same through the free end of the sleeve, die rollers surrounding said mandrel and cooperating.

' duit,

therewith for com-pressin the overlying edges of the said strip, s afts supporting said die rollers and also passedthrough said Wall, and means for rotating the mandrel at a velocity conforming to the speed at which the conduit is formed. j

3. In a machine for forming flexible conshaping mechanism comprising a bracket having an upright wall, a cylindri cal sleeve having one endsecured to one face of said wall, the other end being free, a, mandrel passed through said wall and a said sleeve, means for introducing a'continuous strip of metal into said sleeve through the side and at an angle to the .axis thereof, said sleeve being shaped to form said strip into a helical coil around said mandrel and discharge the same through the free end of the sleeve, die rollers surrounding said mandrel and coiiperating therewith for compressing the overlying edges of the said strip, shafts supporting said die rollers and also passed through said wall, a second bracket independent of said shaping mechanism, and means carried by the last mentioned bracket for supplying a continuous strip of material to said-shaping mechanism.

4. In a machine for making flexible con-- duit, the combination with means for coiling a continuous strip of metal and uniting ,the edges thereof to form a conduit, (if a collecting reel upon which -the completed conduit is wound, a. supporting frame for whereby a helical coil is formed, and means for compressing the edges of said strip together, of means for forming complemental flanges on the edges ofsaid strip as the latter is fed to the shaping mechanism, a collecting reel upon which the completed conduit is wound, a supporting frame for said; feel, a shaft provided withmeans for roitating said frame, driving mechanism, a differential gearing intermediate the driving mechanism and said shaft whereby relative movement of the parts is governed'to create a tension on the conduit as it is being formed, and means for rotating the reel within said frame. V

6. In a machine for making flexible conduit, the combinationwith shaping mechanism comprising a sleeve, means for feeding a continuous strip of metal into said sleeve at an angle to the axis of the latter, I

wherebyv a helical coilis formed, a mandrel within said sleeve, and means cooperating with said mandrel for compressing the edges vof said strip as the coil is formed, a collecting reel upon which, the completed conduit is wound, a supporting framevfor' said reel, a shaft' provided with means for rotating said frame, driving mechanism, a differen tial gearing intermediate the said shaft and said drivingv mechanism whereby relative movement of the parts is governed to create 'a tension onthe conduit as .1t is beingformed, and means for rotating the reel within said frame.

' 7 In a machine for forming flexible conduit, the combination with shaping mechanism comprising a sleeve, means for feeding a continuous strip of metal into said sleeve at an angle to the axis of the latter, whereby a helical coil is formed, and means for compressing the edges of said strip, of a collect- ;ment of theparts is governed to create a tension on the conduit as it is being formed,

and means for rotating the reel within's'aid frame.

8. In a machine for forming flexible conduit, the combination with shaping mechanism comprising a sleeve, means for feeding a'continuous strip of metal into said sleeve at an angle to the axis of the latter, whereby a helical coil is formed, a mandrel within said sleeve, and means coiiperating with said mandrel for compressing the edges of said strip as the coil is formed, of a collecting reel upon which the completed conduit is Wound, a supporting frame for said reel, a shaft provided with means for rotating said frame, a driving mechanism, a differential gearing intermediate the said shaft and said driving mechanism, whereby-relative movement of the parts is governed to create a tension onthe conduit as.

it is being formed, and means for rotating the reel within said frame. I 9. In a machine for formingflexible conduit, shaping mechanism comprising a cylindrical sleeve, a hollow mandrel arranged coaxially thereof, means for introducing a continuous strip of metal into said sleeve at an angle to the axis of the latter, said sleeve being shapedto form said strip into a helical coil around said mandrel, means for forming complemental flanges on the edges of said strip, means cotiperating with the mandrel for compressing the complement-a1 flanges of said strip, a collecting reel for the finished conduit, a supporting frame for said reel, a shaft provided with means for rotating said reel frame, drivlng mechanism,

a differential gearing intermediate the driving mechanism and said shaft, whereby relative movement of the parts is governed to create a tension on the conduit as it is being formed, and means for rotating the reel within said frame.

. 10. In a machine for forming flexible conduit, shaping mechanism comprising a cylindrical sleeve supported at one end, the other end being free, a mandrel arrangedcoaxially thereof, means for introducing a continuous strip of metal into said'sleeve at an angle to the axis thereof, said sleeve being shaped to form said strip into a helical. coil around said mandrel and discharging the same through the free end of the sleeve, die rollers surrounding said mandrel and cooperating therewith to compress the overlying edges of the strip, a collecting reel for the finished conduit, a supporting frame for said reel, a shaft provided with means for rotating said reel frame, driving mechanism, differential gearing intermediate the shaft and said driving mechanism, whereby relative movement of the parts is governed to create a tension on said conduit as it is being formed, and means for rotating the reel within said frame.

11. In a machine for making flexible coni duit, the combination with means for coiling a continuous strip of metal and uniting the edges thereof to form the conduit, of a collecting reel for the finished conduit, a supporting frame for said reel, and differential gearing constructed to rotate said reel frame to create a tension on the conduit as the latter is being formed.

12. In a machine for making flexible con duit, the combination with means for coiling a continuous strip of metal and uniting the edges thereof to form the conduit, of a collecting reel for the finished conduit, a rotatable frame for supporting the same, a supply reel, a rotatable frame in which said supply reel is mounted, and differential gearing operatively connected with both of said frames.

' 13. In a machine for making flexible conduit, the combination with means for coiling a continuous strip of metal and uniting the edges thereof to form the conduit, of a collecting reel for the finished conduit, a rotatable frame. for supporting the same, a supply reel, a rotatable frame for supporting the supply reel, a shaft for rotating said reel frames, and differential gearing controlling saidshaft.

14. In a machine for making flexible copduit, the combination with means for-colling a continuous strip of metal and uniting the edges thereof to form the conduit, of a collecting reel, a rotatable frame for supporting the same, a supply reel, a rotatable frame for supporting the same, a shaft for rotating said reel frames, differential gearing controlling said shaft, and including a brake drum, and means for braking said drum.

15. In a machine for making flexible conduit, the combination with means for coiling a continuous strip of metal and uniting the edges thereof to form the conduit, of a collecting reel, a rotatable supporting frame therefor, a supply reel, a rotatable frame for supporting the supply reel, a shaft for rotating the reel frames, difierential gearing controlling said shaft and including a brake drum, a brake band cooperating with said drum, and a weight for actuating said brake band.

16. In a machine for making flexible conduit, the combination with means for forming a continuous strip of metal into a helical coil, means for compressing the ed es of said strip together, said means including a rotatable mandrel, and seaming rollers rotating in unison therewith, of a collecting reel, a frame in which said reel is mounted, and means for rotating said frame said rotating means including means for creating a tension on said conduit as the latter is formed.

17. In a machine for making flexible conduit, the combination with means for forming a continuous strip of metal into a helical coil, a rotatable mandrel, and seaming rollers cooperating with said mandrel to unite the edges of said strip as the coil is formed, of a collecting reel, a rotatable frame in which said reel is mounted, and means operatively connected with said mandrel for rotating said reel frame.

18. In a machine for making flexible c0n-' duit, the combination with means for forming a continuous strip of metal into a helical coil, a rotatable mandrel, and seaming rollers cooperating with said mandrel to compress the edges of said strip together as the coil is formed, means for operating the mandrel, and means actuated by said mandrel operating means for creating a tension on the conduit as the latter is formed.

19. In a machine for making flexible conduit, the combination with means for form ing a continuous strip of metal into a helical coil, a rotatable mandrel, and seaming rollers cooperating with said mandrel to unite the edges of said strip as the coil is formed, of a collecting reel, a supply reel, independent rotatable frames in which the respective reels are mounted, a shaft for rotating said reel frames in unison, a differential gearing for operating said shaft, and means operatively connected with said mandrel for actuating said shaft through said differential gearing. y

20. In a machinefor making flexible conduit, the combination with means for form ing a continuous strip of metal into a helical coil, a mandrel, and seaming .rollers oooperating with said mandrel, of means for rotating said rollers, a shaft driven by said roller. rotating means, said shaft being connected with said mandrel, and means operated by said shaft for maintaining a tension on the conduit as the latter is formed.-

21. In a machine for making flexible conduit, the combination with means for forming a continuous strip of metal into a helical coil, a hollow mandrel, and seaming rollers coiiperating with said mandrel, ofmeans for rotating said rollers, a shaft for rotating said amandrel and driven by said roller-rotating means, a collecting reel, a rotatable frame for supporting the same, and means operated by said shaft for rotating said frame to maintain a tension on the conduit as the latter is formed.

In a machine for making flexible conduit, the combination with means for forming a continuous strip of metal into a helical coil, a hollow mandrel, and seaming rollers .cotiperating with said. mandrel, of

means for rotating said rollers, a shaft for rotating saidmandrel and driven by said roller-rotating means, a collecting reel, a rotatable supporting frame for said reel, a shaft for rotating said frame, a differential gearing for operating the last mentioned shaft, and means operated by said mandrel shaft for operating said differential gearing 23. In a machine for making flexible con- I duit, the combination qf means for forming a continuous strip of metal into a helical coil, a hollow mandrel, a shaft for driving the same, seaming rollers cotiperating with said mandrel, means for rotating said rollers, said shaft being driven by said roller rotating means, a supply reel, a collecting reel, independent rotatable frames in which the respective reels are mounted, and means operated by said mandrel shaft for rotating said reel frames.

24:, In a machine for making flexible conduit, the combination of means for form ing a continuous strip of metal into a heli cal coil, a hollow mandrel, a shaft for driving the same, seaming rollers cotiperating' with said mandrel, means for rotating said rollers, said shaft being driven by said rollnrotating means, .a supply reel, a col-- lecting reel, independent. rotatable frames in which the respective reels are mounted, a differential gearing for operating said reels and reel frames, and means 'operatedby said mandrel, shaft for actuating said dif' ferential gearin v p 25. The com ination with means for sion on the conduit 'as the latter is formed, and means actuated by said frame for rotating said reel,

l 27. In a machine for forming flexible conduitmeans for'forming a continuous strip of metal into a helical coil, a hollow mandrel, meansfcooperating with the periphery of said mandrel for compressing the edges of said strip together as the coil, is formed, and means for feeding acable through said mandrel simultaneously with the-formation of said conduit, whereby said cable is free to move longitudinally in said conduit;

28. In a machine for forming flexible conduit means for forming a continuous strip of metal into a helical coil, a hollow mandrel, seaming rolls coiiperating with the periphery of said mandrel to compress the edges of said strip together as the conduit is formed, and means for feeding as cable through said mandrel simultaneously with the formation of said conduit, whereby said cable is free to move longitudinally in said conduit. v

29. In a machine for forming 'flexible conduit means for forming a continuous strip of metal into helical coi1,'a hollowmandrel, seaming rolls coiiperating with the periphery of said mandrel to compress the'edges of said s trip togetheras the conduit is formed, means for rotating said seaming rollers and said mandrel in opposite directions, and means for feeding a cable through said mandrel simultaneously with the formation of said conduit, whereby said cable is'free to move longitudinally in said conduit.

30. In a, machine for forming flexible ,conduit means for forming a continuous strip of metal into a helical coil, a hollow mandrel, means cooperating with the periphery of said mandrel for c ompressingthe edges of said strip together as the coil is formed, means for feeding a cable through said mandrel simultaneously with the formation ofsaid conduit, whereby said cable is free to move longitudinally in said conduit and a collecting reelupon which the finished conduit and the inclosed cable are wound,

31. In a machine for forming a flexible conduit, means for forming a continuous simultaneously with the formation of said 10 strip of metal into a helical coil, a hollow conduit, whereby said cable is free to move mandrel, a hollow quill shaft to which one longitudinally in said conduit.

end of said mandrel is connected, means for In testimony whereof I aflix my signature a rotating said quill shaft, means cooperating in presence of two witnesses.

with the periphery of said mandrel to com- GIOVANNI LOMBARDI. press the edges of said strip together after WVitnesses: the coil is formed, and means for feeding a A. M. Woosrrm,

cable through said quill shaft and mandrel S. \V. ATHERTON. 

